Kaptur and DeLauro Introduce Bill to Rein in Executive Branch Spending Abuses and Uphold Congressional Appropriations Authority

“The Power of the Purse rests with Congress. That is established quite clearly in the Constitution, and it has been repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court. This Administration has demonstrated time and again a lack of understanding — or worse, deliberate disregard for the direction Congress provides through the Appropriations process,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “This is about enforcing the Constitution and safeguarding democracy. We set policy, we provide direction, and we allocate funds. Then, based on those allocations, the Executive Branch must execute — not reinterpret or ignore — what Congress has directed on behalf of the American people. This is not about politics. It is about protecting the constitutional role of Congress, respecting the will of the American people, and ensuring every public dollar is spent lawfully and transparently.”

“Instead of being laser-focused on the cost-of-living crisis, President Trump is making it worse by illegally stealing resources promised to the American people,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “The Trump administration has been lawless from the jump, illegally freezing or taking funding, appropriated in law by Congress, for programs and services across the federal government that help the middle class, the working class, and small businesses and make sure billionaires and big corporations pay taxes. Whether they are a Democrat or a Republican, nobody should be managing American Taxpayers' hard-earned money if they do not understand the law. This is a common-sense requirement to defend Congress’s power of the purse and reaffirm its constitutional authority over government funding.”

The bill has already received strong support, with a growing list of cosponsors including Appropriations Committee Members: Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Rep. James Clyburn (SC-06), Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-02), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Marc Pocan (WI-02), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Frank Mrvan (IN-01), and Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04).

The Appropriations Compliance and Training Act will require high-ranking federal employees in the Executive Branch to take annual, mandatory training that will ensure their understanding and compliance with Appropriations laws, including the Antideficiency Act and the Impoundment Control Act. These laws clarify Congress’ power of the purse and prohibits the Executive Branch from spending or withholding funds beyond the explicit direction of Congress. The legislation is meant to make sure that all Executive Branch officials clearly understand their legal responsibilities and the potential consequences of violations. It also includes a review of what Congress has directed, through the Appropriations process, for each agency in that year’s funding law.

A full copy of the H.R. 4230 the Appropriations Compliance and Training Act can be found by clicking here.